Republicans overwhelmingly approve the law (85%) signed by Republican Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer in frustration over federal inaction on securing the state's borders with Mexico. A solid majority of independents (64%) also support the controversial measure. (See several related items below, including the law's full text.)

Even among young people, where support for the law is weakest, a majority support requiring people to produce immigration documents upon request by police.

Obama has called Arizona's state action "misguided," while agreeing that broad immigration reforms are needed. However, he's added that he does not see the "appetite" for addressing the problems after his rancorous intra-party healthcare debate. Nor has he taken additional steps to secure the borders.

The issue, involving fears of rising crime, assaults and illegal drug trading, has the potential to become an emotional one in this year's evolving midterm election campaigns and not to the advantage of congressional incumbents, most of whom are Democrats.

Fifty-four percent of Americans in the new Pew Poll disapprove of Obama's job performance on immigration while those who approve have waned from 31% last November to 29% last month to 25% today.

Again, Obama's Democratic party is now split (38% disapprove, 37% approve). Predictably, 75% of Republicans disapprove of his job in that area. But of potential future concern for the White House is that, among independents, a crucial leg of his national support in 2008, more than twice as many disapprove of his immigration handling (57%) as approve (25%).